DOG HOSPITAL

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To keep your dog as healthy as possible, we recommend the following:

Nutrition:  Just as in people, good nutrition for your pet translates to good health. In addition, premium foods are more digestible and result in less stool volume. We also recommend that your dog eat and drink from an elevated feeder. We recommend that you feed your dog a high quality diet such as Hill’s Science Diet or Wellness.
 
Prevent Obesity: Extra pounds burden the heart, kidneys, muscles and joints, decreasing life expectancy 30-50%.  Ask us about the different options for foods that help with weight management.

Fresh, Clean Water:  As with humans, water consumption is very important for a healthy body.  Your dog needs access to plenty of fresh, clean water at all times.               

Poop patrol:  Scoop your dog’s poop at least every other day and watch for changes such as softer stools.  This will help you stay on top of your dog’s health and help keep the rest of your family healthy. 

Comprehensive Physical Examinations:  Since pets age 5-7 times faster than we humans do, we recommend a thorough physical examination AT LEAST once a year.  At Central Texas Animal Hospital your dog’s annual visit includes a detailed medical history along with a “nose to tail” physical examination.  Once your dog is a “senior,” (about 7 years old) it is recommended that he come to see us at least twice a year.  We also recommend an annual Fecal Parasite Screen to rule out or treat intestinal parasites, some of which can be contagious to humans.

Vaccinations*:  It is important that your dog be vaccinated at all stages of her life.  We recommend the following vaccines for most of our canine patients –

• DAP – Commonly referred to as the “Distemper/Parvo” vaccine, it protects against these contagious canine diseases:
  
  • Distemper is an extremely contagious viral disease of the dog that can cause fever, lack of appetite, discharges from the eyes and nose, coughing, diarrhea, and eventually neurologic signs such as seizuring. This disease can be fatal. 
    
  • Adenovirus 2 is one of the major causes of infectious tracheobronchitis in dogs, also known as kennel cough. Vaccination against CAV-2 will not prevent infection with this virus but it can minimize its severity so that the chances of developing secondary bacterial infections and complications are lessened.
    
  • Parvo is an extremely contagious, very common and potentially fatal disease of the dog that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and a severely decreased white blood cell count. Vaccination can protect against this viral disease.
    
  • We administer this vaccine every 3 years once adult immunity has been established.
  
  
• Parainfluenza and Bordetella are infectious respiratory diseases that are airborne and can result in pneumonia.
• Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection resulting from contact with infected wildlife urine from infected dogs, or contaminated water or food.  It can also be passed to humans. 

Rabies  - Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded mammals.   The law requires that all pets be kept current on their rabies vaccine.  Failure to do so could result in a fine and citation.  In the event your pet bites someone, quarantine or other public safety measures may be ordered by local law enforcement.  

Other Vaccines – There are also vaccines available to help protect your dog against Lymes Disease, and the severe symptoms that can result from a Rattlesnake bite.  Be sure to ask us if these vaccines are right for your dog.   

Grooming – Brush frequently to keep coat from matting and trim toenails to prevent overgrowth.  Or, bring your pet to our Professional Pet Groomer, Janice Francis.  Janice has been grooming at Central Texas Animal Hospital since 1989.  She is known for her beautiful work and for her skill in making dogs and cats feel comfortable during their visit.

Parasite Prevention – There are numerous parasites that can “bug” your dog:

• Fleas – We recommend Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control, Revolution and Promeris, the new once-a-month pill that kills fleas.
  **We caution against the use of over-the-counter flea control products, as some have proven to be toxic to some pets.**

• Heartworms – The parasitic worm is called a "heartworm" because the parasite, in the final reproductive stage of its life cycle, resides in the heart where it can live for many years and eventually kill its host through congestive heart failure. Heartworm infestation is extremely serious for the host - infected dogs that go untreated can die.  A dog that is infected may have to go through a long period of uncomfortable treatment. The best defense against heartworm disease is the use of a preventative given monthly. A course of heartworm prevention begins with a blood test to see if the parasite is present. If the dog is parasite free, then preventative medication can be started.

• Revolution, Interceptor, Sentinel, Heartgard Plus and Iverhart Max .

• Intestinal Parasites – Intestinal parasites that can infect your dog include whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia and giardia.  Some of these will be prevented using one the monthly heartworm preventatives listed above.  It is very important to prevent and screen for intestinal parasites, since some are contagious to humans.

Keep your dog under control – Don’t let your dog run loose.  Keep him secured in your yard or home.  Use a leash when out on a walk and when you take your dog to the vet or groomer.  Do not let your pet ride loose in the back of a pickup truck.  Make sure he wears a collar with an ID tag and is microchipped in case he loses his collar.

Training – Behavioral problems are the #1 reason that dogs are surrendered to shelters.  Obedience training is very important to help your dog learn what you expect of him.

Dental Hygiene* – Dental exams, routine use of dental chews, specially designed dental-health diets and professional dental scaling/polishing are important for a healthy mouth.  If the tartar is not removed, it builds up under the gums. It separates the gums from the teeth to form "pockets" and encourages even more bacterial growth. At this point the damage, called periodontal disease, is irreversible. It can be very painful and can lead to loose teeth, abscesses, and bone loss or infection. As bacterial growth continues to increase, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream. This can cause infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), liver, and kidneys. If treated by your veterinarian with special instruments and procedures, periodontal disease can be slowed or stopped.

Spay/Neuter*:  Spaying or neutering your dog will help prevent overpopulation.    Spaying/neutering also provides other benefits for your pet.  Altered pets are more content, and far less likely to roam, bite, fight, mark territory or develop uterine, mammary and testicular cancers.  The latest medical findings indicate that an altered animal will live a longer, healthier life. 

Senior Care:  We at Central Texas Animal Hospital are dedicated to improving the lives of all of our canine patients, but have the needs of seniors close to our hearts.  Conditions that may affect seniors in particular, such as hypothyroidism and diabetes are manageable if diagnosed early.  We have specially priced senior diagnostic packages to help you manage the health of your senior dog.
*Central Texas Animal Hospital has a schedule of discounts for these services.

When to see the Veterinarian:

• Sustained, significant increase in water consumption.
• Weight loss.
• Significant decrease in appetite or failure to eat for more than 2 consecutive days.
• Repeated vomiting.
• Diarrhea for more than 2 days.
• Persistent coughing gagging or panting.
• Hair loss.
• Itching
• Seizures.
• Reluctance or inability to chew food.
• Inability to urinate or move bowels, or pain or blood with urination/defecation.
• General Pain.
• Limping
  
  ***NEVER give human medication to your dog unless instructed to do so by a Veterinarian. 

It may be an emergency if your dog exhibits any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing, noisy respiration, blue tongue, gasping for breath.
• Bleeding that does not stop from any part of the body; apply pressure with a clean cloth and go!
• Bloated or distended abdomen or swollen or painful abdomen with or without vomiting.
• Heatstroke heavy panting, extreme weakness, body temperature about 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Inability to deliver puppies or kittens, labor contractions for longer than one hour or, more than 15 minutes of labor with the fetus or membrane showing.
• Loss of balance or consciousness or seizure, including tremors, coma, staggering, convulsions, sudden blindness, tilting of the head, biting at imaginary objects, sudden changes in disposition such as unusual withdrawal or out-of-character aggressiveness.
• Major trauma, injury, or shock from falls, vehicle accidents, wounds, cuts, broken bones
• Signs of collapse, bewildered appearance, dilated pupils.
• Ingested poison; bring the container or the commercial or chemical name of the product or a list of ingredients if you have it.
• Penetrating wounds anyplace, but especially in the chest or abdomen.
• Vomiting and diarrhea with blood or violent episodes.
• Facial swellling

Call us any time you observe a potential problem or need additional information or advice.